Discontinuous Galerkin methods are commonly derived by seeking a weak statement of the governing differential equations via a weighted-average approach allowing for discontinuous fields at the element ... [more ▼]

Discontinuous Galerkin methods are commonly derived by seeking a weak statement of the governing differential equations via a weighted-average approach allowing for discontinuous fields at the element interfaces of the discretization. In order to ensure consistency and stability of the formulation, this approach requires the definition of a numerical flux and a stabilization term. Discontinuous Galerkin methods may also be formulated from a linear combination of the governing and compatibility equations weighted by suitable operators. A third approach based on a variational statement of a generalized energy functional has been proposed recently for finite elasticity. This alternative approach naturally leads to an expression of the numerical flux and the stabilization terms in the context of large deformation mechanics problems. This paper compares these three approaches and establishes the conditions under which identical formulations are obtained. [less ▲]

The antioxidant status of 10 horses living in stable 1 where 2 cases of equine motor neuron disease had previously been diagnosed was assessed before and 9 weeks after moving to another stable. Duration ... [more ▼]

The antioxidant status of 10 horses living in stable 1 where 2 cases of equine motor neuron disease had previously been diagnosed was assessed before and 9 weeks after moving to another stable. Duration of residence in stable 1, subsequent moving, or both, significantly affected several parameters of the antioxidant status. [less ▲]

The problem of uniform shocks interacting with free-standing plates is studied analytically and numerically for arbitrary shock intensity and plate mass. The analysis is of interest in the design and ... [more ▼]

The problem of uniform shocks interacting with free-standing plates is studied analytically and numerically for arbitrary shock intensity and plate mass. The analysis is of interest in the design and interpretation of fluid–structure interaction (FSI) experiments in shock tubes. In contrast to previous work corresponding to the case of incident blast profiles of exponential distribution, all asymptotic limits obtained here are exact. The contributions include the extension of Taylor’s FSI analysis for acoustic waves, the exact analysis of the asymptotic limits of very heavy and very light plates for arbitrary shock intensity, and a general formula for the transmitted impulse in the intermediate plate mass range. One of the implications is that the impulse transmitted to the plate can be expressed univocally in terms of a single nondimensional compressible FSI parameter. [less ▲]

Background: Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are lipid derived mediators involved in asthma. They are able to stimulate eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro. Induced sputum from asthmatics has been shown to contain ... [more ▼]

Background: Cysteinyl-leukotrienes are lipid derived mediators involved in asthma. They are able to stimulate eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro. Induced sputum from asthmatics has been shown to contain eosinophil chemotactic activity. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the contribution of cysteinyl-leukotrienes to sputum eosinophil chemotactic activity in asthmatics and to seek whether there might be differences between asthmatics free of inhaled corticosteroids vs those regularly receiving this treatment. Methods: Twenty-two patients (11 corticosteroid free, mean FEV1 99% predicted, 11 corticosteroid-treated, mean FEV1 77% predicted) recruited from our asthma clinic underwent a sputum induction. Sputum was processed according to standard procedure. Eosinophil chemotactic activity contained in the fluid phase was assessed using Boyden microchamber model and expressed as chemotaxis index (CI). Cysteinyl-leukotrienes were measured in sputum supernatant by ELISA and their role in sputum eosionophil chemotactic activity was evaluated by using montelukast, a selective antagonist of a cys-LT1 receptor. Results: Cysteinyl-leukotrienes were well detectable in sputum supernatants from both steroid-naive (247 +/- 42 pg/ml) and steroid-treated (228 +/- 26 pg/ml) asthmatics. Sputum eosinophil chemotactic activity was indiscriminately present in both corticosteroid-naive (CI: 2.61 +/- 0.22) and corticosteroid-treated (2.98 +/- 0.35) asthmatics. Montelukast (100 mu M) significantly inhibited the eosinophil chemotactic activity in both groups achieving a mean inhibition of 54.2 +/- 9.2% (P < 0.001) and 64.7 +/- 7.8% (P < 0.001) in steroid-naive and steroid-treated asthmatics respectively. Conclusion: Cysteinyl-leukotrienes actively participate in sputum eosinophil chemotactic activity found in asthmatics irrespective of whether they are or not under treatment with inhaled corticoids. [less ▲]

In a previous paper entitled “Flutter Predictions from Flight Flutter Test Data” the authors applied a number of different flutter prediction methods to data from two simulated aeroelastic aircraft models ... [more ▼]

In a previous paper entitled “Flutter Predictions from Flight Flutter Test Data” the authors applied a number of different flutter prediction methods to data from two simulated aeroelastic aircraft models and compared the resulting flutter predictions. The two simulated models were a simple three-degree-of-freedom Hancock wing model and the Sim-2 model of a generic four-engined civil transport. One of the methods examined in the paper was the Nissim and Gilyard method (NGM). Because of difficulties encountered with the Sim-2 model, the authors failed to apply the NGM successfully to it, and only results for the Hancock model were presented in the paper. With the aid of Eli Nissim, the authors have now succeeded in applying the method to the Sim-2 model and to obtain quality flutter predictions from it. In this short Comment, the initial problems encountered will be described and then the solutions will be outlined. Finally, flutter predictions for the method will be presented and compared to the flutter predictions obtained from the other methods by Dimitriadis and Cooper. [less ▲]

A deconvolution-based method which allows to derive high-precision photometry of stars in crowded fields, proves very useful for a variety of astronomical projects, including transit searches for ... [more ▼]

A deconvolution-based method which allows to derive high-precision photometry of stars in crowded fields, proves very useful for a variety of astronomical projects, including transit searches for extrasolar planets. [less ▲]

Numerous studies are currently focusing on the modelling of humans and their behavior in 3D environments. The CINEMA project has similar goals but differentiates itself by aiming at enhanced interactions ... [more ▼]

Numerous studies are currently focusing on the modelling of humans and their behavior in 3D environments. The CINEMA project has similar goals but differentiates itself by aiming at enhanced interactions, the creation of mixed reality, and the creation of interactive and reactive acoustical environments. Part of the project consists in gesture recognition of a user, who is given the real-time control of auralization and audio spatialization processes. [less ▲]

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a ubiquitous statistical technique for data analysis. PCA is however limited by its linearity and may sometimes be too simple for dealing with real-world data ... [more ▼]

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a ubiquitous statistical technique for data analysis. PCA is however limited by its linearity and may sometimes be too simple for dealing with real-world data especially when the relations among variables are nonlinear. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of nonlinear generalizations of PCA, as for instance nonlinear principal component analysis (NLPCA) [1] or vector quantization principal component analysis (VQPCA) [2]. VQPCA involves a two-step procedure, namely a clustering of the data space into several regions and the application of PCA in each local region. In Ref. [3], VQPCA was applied for the reconstruction of dynamical response and it was shown that it is potentially a more effective tool than conventional PCA. The purpose of this technical note is to further investigate VQPCA and to have a closer look at the choice of the distortion function used for clustering the data space. [less ▲]

Mycoplasma bovis is a major cause of pneumonia and arthritis in calves, and of mastitis and genital infections in adult cows. It is responsible for high economic loss in feedlot cattle although it is ... [more ▼]

Mycoplasma bovis is a major cause of pneumonia and arthritis in calves, and of mastitis and genital infections in adult cows. It is responsible for high economic loss in feedlot cattle although it is often underestimated and is widely spread within the bovine population in enzootically infected areas. [less ▲]

Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to monitor the kinetics of duplex formation between the human telomeric DNA quadruplex and its complementary strand; the complexation of telomestatin to ... [more ▼]

Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to monitor the kinetics of duplex formation between the human telomeric DNA quadruplex and its complementary strand; the complexation of telomestatin to the G-quadruplex delays the unwinding of the quadruplex structure and formation of the duplex. [less ▲]

Data from the High Energy Neutral Atom (ENA) and the far ultraviolet (FUV) imagers on IMAGE were compared for a six hour period during which a reasonably intense substorm occurred. The substorm presented ... [more ▼]

Data from the High Energy Neutral Atom (ENA) and the far ultraviolet (FUV) imagers on IMAGE were compared for a six hour period during which a reasonably intense substorm occurred. The substorm presented is typical of a substorm expansive phase showing that while the total electron precipitation suddenly increase one whole order of magnitude, the protons increase only about 50%. In principle ENA images represent the trapped fluxes in the magnetosphere while the proton aurora measured by the FUV SI12 instrument represents the precipitating component. At substorm onset the increase in intensity of the auroral protons and electrons is very sudden while the intensification of the ENA-s coming from regions of L<6 is much more gradual. The intensification of the precipitating electrons is relatively short lived ( ~ 10 minutes) while the ENA enhancements are long lived (almost a whole hour). Just prior to the substorm expansive phase (in the growth phase) the precipitated proton and electron fluxes encounter a minimum while the ENA-s show a slight growth. [less ▲]